An Giang (VNA) – The majority of localities in theMekong Delta region saw a sharp decrease in the numbers of traffic accidents,fatalities and injured in the first nine months of this year, heard a Traffic Safety Day event held in Long Xuyen city, An Giang province onOctober 10.
According to the National Committee for Traffic Safety, fivelocalities in the region – Kien Giang, Bac Lieu, Tra Vinh, An Giang and Ben Tre -saw a drop of over 30 percent in the number of fatalities caused by trafficaccidents.
The falls in accidents were recorded in 11 out of 13 regionallocalities, contributing to a reduction of 5 percent in the number of road deathsacross the whole country, the sharpest decline since 2014.
Nationwide, 12,700 traffic accidents occurred in the firstnine months of 2019, killing 5,659 people and injuring9,619 others,representing decreases of 4.28 percent, 5.87 percent and 6.78 percent, respectively.
Khuat Viet Hung, Vice Chairman of the National Committee forTraffic Safety, said that although traffic safety has seen progress over theyears, more than 8,000 people die in traffic accidents each year.
“In order to reduce traffic accidents, we need to applycomprehensive measures such as upgrading infrastructure, enhancing Statemanagement, applying stricter punishments for violations and increasing awarenessof traffic laws,” he said.
He also stressed the need to encourage people not to drive afterdrinking alcohol.
Le Van Nung, Vice Chairman of the An Giang provincial People’sCommittee, expressed his hope that the Traffic Safety Day 2019 will help raisepublic awareness, thus reducing traffic accidents./.
VNA